The study looked at how different types of rice plants store starch in their grains and how this relates to the way their leaves photosynthesize. They found that one rice variety had a longer period of starch accumulation in its grains and maintained high enzyme activity. Another variety had a significant increase in starch accumulation rate that matched its leaf transpiration rate, while a third variety had a similar increase that matched its leaf photosynthesis rate. The timing of starch accumulation in the grains and changes in leaf photosynthesis were not always synchronized, showing that different rice varieties have specific ways of storing starch and using energy from sunlight.